Deshaun Watson: injured knee is 'doing good'

Deshaun Watson: injured knee is 'doing good'

Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson gave a favorable update on his knee Wednesday during the second day of mini-camp.

The second-year signal caller tore his anterior cruciate ligament during practice last season and had an otherwise stellar rookie season cut short.

“The knee is doing good,” Watson said. “Able to do some things on the field with the team. Physically-wise for the nine-week goal that we put in from the beginning, I’m pretty much where I wanted to be. Kind of passed it inside in the weight room, mentally and also on the field. So, everything is going smoothly right now.”

The 12th overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft has taken part in individual drills and even 7-on-7 during organized team activities and mini-camp. However, the coaching staff has elected to give backup Brandon Weeden the first-team reps during 11-on-11.

Head coach Bill O’Brien doesn’t think the team is being apprehensive about Watson’s re-acclimation to live action. Rather, O’Brien sees it as using discernment.

“It’s more about being intelligent that you can’t throw the kitchen sink at him when he comes back just thinking that all of a sudden, snap a finger and he’s back to full-go,” O’Brien said.

The team is looking into a comprehensive approach as to how many reps Watson will get in training camp.

Said O’Brien: “I think we’ll have a really good plan for how many reps he gets relative to practice, relative to the preseason games. We’re going to talk a lot about that over the next couple of days here as a staff with everybody, with Brian Gaine and our medical staff and everybody.”

Watson worked with the Texans medical staff, headed by Geoff Kaplan, to get ahead of his goals to return to the field. The former Clemson Tiger feels he has grown “mentally, emotionally, spiritually” from the experience.

“It’s cool, but never satisfied,” said Watson. “I feel like I can be better, and will get better.”

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Now that Watson’s mind is no longer on rehabilitating from his knee injury, he should be able to handle the mental aspect of playing starting quarterback in his second year, a season where he won’t be able to surprise teams. Nonetheless, O’Brien remains confident in his young field general.

“I do feel that when it comes from a mental standpoint, I feel really good about what we’re going to be able to throw at him from a playbook standpoint,” O’Brien said.

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